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Ever wonder how all the events of American Horror Story fit into one timeline? Ryan and Greg take you back through every season of AHS in chronological order. From the early Roanoke days and the origins of the Coven witches, to stops at the Murder House and Hotel Cortez, and of course, all the way to the Apocalypse and back to in time to 1984.

Adaptation is an imprecise art.

Netflix’s Locke and Key really is the perfect storm of an adaptation, with a passionate, dedicated fanbase, a volatile mix of horror, fantasy, and drama genres, and a cogent beginning, middle, and end to the story that’s already written and set in stone–unlike some other recent high profile adaptations.

But even near-perfect source material can’t be adapted word-for-word (or in this case, panel-by-panel) to a completely different medium. Most fans understand this, and the changes Locke and Key has experienced on its journey from comic book pages to streaming on Netflix are more a source of fascination than frustration.

As fans of the Locke and Key comics ourselves, we couldn’t help but jot down all the big changes we noted as we watched the series. We listed them below for your pleasure.

Here’s your spoiler warning: We’ll discuss events from throughout the show and the comics below. You’ve been warned.

We also wrote down as many Easter eggs and references as we could spot throughout the season–there were so many, we had to break it into three separate articles (here’s Episode 1, Episodes 2-5, and Episodes 6-10). If you want to know more about the comics, check out every key from the books (and our explanations of what they all do).

And for some Locke and Key news, check out the fact that work on Season 2 has already begun, not to mention Joe Hill’s recent announcement of a new Locke and Key one-shot issue called Locke and Key: Pale Battalions.

1. Horror/fantasy balance

The Locke and Key comics strike a remarkable balance between the magical fantasy of Keyhouse as discovered by teenagers and kids, and the horror of the murderous, otherworldly forces who want the keys for themselves. But while the comics lean more toward horror, with ample body horror and gore throughout the series, the show is much more concerned with the fantasy. It’s a major tonal shift that might seem jarring to fans of the comics, but it was no accident: Speaking to GameSpot, executive producer Carlton Cuse said he and Locke and Key’s other adapters tried to strike a ratio of “three cups fantasy to one cup horror.”

“It’s sort of an intuitive process,” Cuse continued. “[Showrunner] Meredith [Averill], we worked on Haunting of Hill House, and I had done Bates Motel before this, and I think that for both of us, we loved the kind of inviting, warm, heartfelt undertones to Joe [Hill]’s comic. And we wanted to have that be reflected in the story, in our adaptation of it. And I think that we felt like horror was an element, but we were much more interested in structuring the show on the fantasy axis.”

2. Mark Cho’s fate

The show’s opening is very different from the original version in the comics. The first character we meet is Mark Cho, who, in the books, didn’t survive into adulthood. Granted, he still has practically no bearing on the story, since he immediately self-immolates moments after we meet him in the show.

3. Matchstick Key

Speaking of which, the Matchstick Key is brand new for the show. There are dozens of keys in the comics, but author Joe Hill never wrote one that creates fire.

4. The Savini Squad

Some of the show’s characters, like Tyler, Bode, and Kinsey, are more or less the same as their comics counterparts (or close enough, at least). But others have been completely reinvented–like the Savini Squad. In the books, Kinsey’s friends include Scot, Jamal (not in the show), and Jackie (reinvented to be Tyler’s love interested in the show). They don’t have a name for themselves, they don’t care about horror movies, and they’re not making a movie. Scot is completely different in the books, with a more punk vibe, including massive tattoos and a less shy demeanor. The other Squad members, including Gabe, don’t exist at all in the comics.

5. Other side characters

As we already mentioned, Jackie (above) is very different in the books–instead of being Tyler’s love interest and an avid enthusiast of Jane Austen and extracurricular activities, she’s on the track team with Kinsey and eventually starts dating Scot. Several other side characters, like Eden and Javi, were invented wholesale for the show, while some book characters, like Jordan Gates, don’t exist in the show.

6. Sam Lesser

Sam is significantly different in the show. He’s much less threatening, and not just because the show skipped the scene where Tyler bashed his face to bits with a brick. Show Sam has a much smaller scar on his forehead, rather than criss-cross stitches from having his face reconstructed. In addition, the books never portray Sam as a weird sort of class clown, like the show does. He’s much more sinister–when he attacks the Lockes the first time and kills Rendell, he has a friend with him, and the attack also involves assaulting Nina (granted, something we’re fine they left out of the show). But overall, book Sam is far more threatening–he even leaves a trail of brutally murdered people behind when he breaks out and travels to Keyhouse.

7. Dodge’s rules

The show has an odd conceit that wasn’t present in the comics: Dodge is unable to take the keys from the Lockes–the keys have to be given to her. This probably has something to do with the fact that the Lockes are the “Keepers of the Keys” and are tied to them by family magic, though it isn’t fully explained in this season. In the books, Tyler and Kinsey simply hide the keys really well.

8. Nina’s alcoholism

Nina is a drunk in both the show and the books, with one key difference: Her comics storyline doesn’t involve her falling off the wagon, since she’s already drinking heavily when the story begins. Her alcoholism gets worse throughout the comics, but she’s not in a 12-step program like she is in the show.

9. Identity Key

The Identity Key is another invention for the show, and it makes a ton of sense. The comics featured two separate keys for changing your appearance: the Gender Key, which changed your gender, and the Skin Key, which altered your race. The Identity Key is a much more versatile–and progressive–alternative for those two.

10. Head Key

The Head Key is another example of something that works very differently in the show than it did in the comics. The panels of various characters opening the tops of their skulls like toy chests and peering down at what was inside are some of the most famous scenes in the books, but for the show, the filmmakers decided to make the key’s use slightly less horrifying. Instead of causing the user’s head to open like a tin can, it spawns a door or other entrance (such as an actual toy chest) nearby in the room.

11. Mirror Key

Another new key invented for the show is the Mirror Key, which Dodge explains to Bode is a way to trap enemies in a “prison of the self.” When used with a mirror, it causes a reflection of the user to appear and beckon them into the mirror. Nothing like this key exists in the books, though there are plenty there that are even stranger.

12. Flower Key

There’s one more brand new key in the show, and in a way, it’s the most mysterious one: the Flower Key (at least, that’s what we’re calling it). Its exact function is hard to describe–Tyler and Kinsey turn it in a tree, which causes jars containing their uncle Duncan’s memories to rise from the ground. Rendell Locke likely used the Flower Key to hide them there, but is that its entire purpose? It seems like a really specific thing.

13. The ghost of Grandpa Chamberlin

Chamberlin Locke is a character in the comics, but not in nearly the same way. Bode never encounters him while flying around using the Ghost Key–that scene is completely made up for the show. Instead, Chamberlin is a figure in Keyhouse’s past who’s seen in flashbacks and one-shot issues.

14. Kinsey’s Fear

Kinsey does the same thing in the comics and the show: She takes the fear out of her head. In the comics, where the Head Key works differently, Kinsey’s fear is about the size of a mouse, and she keeps it (along with her sadness) trapped in a soda bottle in her nightstand. In the show, her Fear is a human-sized personification that she buries in the woods.

15. The Music Box

The Music Box and its accompanying Key play a much smaller role in the books, where the Lockes discover it later on and barely use it. They certainly don’t bring it to school and use its power to humiliate a classmate.

16. The Shadows

In the comics, the shadows take very specific shapes, depending who cast them in the first place. In the show, they’re mainly all the same shadowy monster.

17. Behind the Black Door

When the Black Door is opened in the comics, the other side is a Lovecraftian hellscape filled with viscous, eyeball-shaped demons who reach through and inspire unrestrained slaughter in whoever they touch. In the show, it’s a lot more tame. Who’s afraid of “glowing bullets”?

18. Dodge/Lucas/Zack/(Gabe)

This may be the largest difference between the books and the show, and it’s an extremely effective one. In the books, when Dodge escapes the well house, she immediately uses the Gender Key to turn back into her “natural” form: that of Rendell’s best friend, Lucas. Lucas cuts his hair, gets a weird lip ring, and immediately attaches himself to Tyler and Kinsey. Going by the name Zack, he becomes the former’s best friend and dates the latter, all to manipulate them into confiding in him about the Keys. Bode doesn’t recognize him from the well, but several other people do–since he looks exactly like Lucas–and he has to do a whole lot of murdering to keep his cover. But while we, the readers, know who he is, it takes the Lockes a long time to catch on.

In contrast, the character “Zack” doesn’t exist in the show at all. Dodge attempts to seduce Tyler, but makes a stupid mistake and breaks her cover. She manipulates Bode openly–not that there’s much the kid can do to fight her. She lives at Ellie’s house as Lucas, but Ellie and Rufus keep that a secret. And comics readers watching the show for the first time will likely assume they skipped the Zack storyline entirely–until the final moments of the Season 1 finale, when it’s revealed that Gabe played the same role all along, manipulating Kinsey with the help of the Identity Key. It’s really an ingenious twist.

19. Missing Keys

The show’s story doesn’t totally align with the books, but in general, at this point in the source material, the Lockes had discovered several other keys. For example, the Hercules Key made the user three times stronger than normal, while the Giant Key made them huge (as seen above). Those keys have yet to be introduced in the show, but they may just be saving them for later seasons.

Xbox players eager for more Kingdom Hearts may be in luck, as a now-removed Microsoft Store listing suggested that Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue may be headed to Xbox One in the next two weeks.

According to Twitter user Wario64, who has a record of reporting on industry news and deals, a Microsoft Store listing stated Kingdom Hearts 2.8 might launch on February 18. “Might” is the operative word here, as the link in Wario’s tweet leads to an error page. And searching for the game on the Microsoft Store pulls no results. It’s customary for release dates to go up on temporary store listings as placeholders, so the February date may be just that. Kingdom Hearts 3, its demo, and the recently-released Re:Mind DLC are all there, though.

Kingdom Hearts 2.8 might have one of the longest titles in franchise history, but it also fills in the gaps for players who missed some of the spin-offs that appeared on other platforms like mobile devices, the 3DS, and PSP. This collection includes a high-definition remaster of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, an add-on to Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep titled A Fragmentary Passage, and the cinematic film Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover. All three experiences precede the events that take place in Kingdom Hearts 3.

If you’re tired of collecting the Kingdom Hearts games individually or as part of separate collections like the Kingdom Hearts Collector’s Pack: HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix, Square Enix has announced a brand-new, all-encompassing compilation that includes 10 Kingdom Hearts titles. Called Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far, the collection packages seven games and three movies to give you the ultimate Kingdom Hearts experience. It retails for $50, is pre-orderable now at various retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, and launches on March 17.

We gave Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (phew!) a 7/10 in our review, saying, “It’s a jumble that suffers somewhat for its lack of any real cohesion among its three parts, but at least two of those components are strong enough to warrant a return visit to the world that believably drops Final Fantasy and Disney characters into the same universe.”

Not everyone can commit their entire desk area to a dedicated gaming PC setup, but for those who still want to drink deep at the well of PC games, it no longer feels like a dramatic compromise to go the route of a powerful gaming laptop. For a long time, mobile GPUs struggled to keep up in terms of speed, and laptop heat would melt a desk if someone played a high-powered game for too long (at least, that’s what it felt like). Now, the balance is all upside with minimal compromise for most models in the market.

One common victory is that the “best fit” resolutions for a good laptop experience very much suit the current state of graphics processing power. When it comes to the display, large desktop monitors are reaching for 4K resolutions and beyond for lovers of the cutting edge, most laptops don’t push past 1920×1080 (or 1080p) as a resolution, as the gains diminish pretty quickly on sub-20-inch screens. GPUs that fit inside a laptop have caught up to this pixel scale nicely and, in most cases, do a comfortable job of delivering 50+ frames per second at very high settings in all but the most demanding games. A number of laptop models also add the ability to boost GPU power using external devices, so you’re not confined to the graphics card inside the case and can future-proof yourself to some extent.

However, there are some areas where compromises remain: speakers can struggle to give an impressive sound, and fans can make a lot of noise as they keep the air moving through the limited space inside a laptop chassis. If you’re gaming with a headset, both of these issues can be ignored pretty comfortably, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Gaming laptops have also gotten a lot thinner in the past three years. Some are still pretty chunky, especially the big 17-inch units, but compared to even just a few years ago, most of our picks have real potential to be nice, daily-use, powerful laptops that can also deliver a great gaming experience.

We’ve played around with a lot of different models from a variety of manufacturers, and in this guide, you’ll find our personal recommendations and a buyer’s guide for the best gaming laptops currently available. We focussed on the pros and cons of form factor, any unique traits, and used the benchmarking tool found in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey to help us compare the graphical performance of the models we tested–these benchmark numbers give us a rough indication of the average frames-per-second performance on the unit.

Quick look: Best Gaming Laptops 2019

• Best Gaming Laptop For Portability: Razer Blade Stealth
• Best Designed Gaming Laptop: Alienware m15
• Most Powerful Gaming Laptop: Alienware Area51m
• Best Gaming Laptop For Security: Asus ROG Strix Scar III
• Best Gaming Laptop For Comfort: Lenovo Y740
• Best Gaming Laptop For Value / Full Keyboard: Acer Helios 300

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Best Gaming Laptop For Portability

Razer Blade Stealth

The Good	The Bad
As thin and light as any nice ‘daily grind’ laptop out there	Not a dazzling game performer when away from an eGPU
Build quality feels rock solid	Very limited storage options

The Razer Blade Stealth is a sleek, well-built hunk of black aluminum that feels like Apple said “yes” to making an ultra-slim laptop for gamers. But even though the logo on the back and those green-trimmed USB ports send out the signal that this is very much from the house of Razer, it’s still a nice, minimalist piece of hardware that doesn’t scream “gaming laptop” like a lot of others.

The Stealth is a pleasure to type on and use as an everyday piece of working hardware, if a little cramped for larger hands. Its size means that one of its major shortcomings is the deeply limited 256GB storage that can only be upgraded to 512GB by ordering the absolute top-of-the-line model. With today’s comparatively large game install sizes, expect to only ever have a few games installed at a time on here.

With its portable-friendly design, it’s not surprising that this machine delivers the worst gaming performance of all units tested. The entry-level Stealth only gets built-in graphics and a 1080p screen, while a maxed-out version can have a 4K touchscreen and a GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU. We found it could only run demanding games on low settings and was happiest by reducing resolution down to 720p.

That being said, if convenience is your biggest priority and you can handle playing games at lower settings while on the go, then the Stealth is a fine choice.

Where the Stealth is at its best, however, is when it’s attached to an external GPU when you get back to your desk at home. And what’s this? Razer has an ideal companion for it in the Razer Core X Chroma–although its $399 USD / $649 AUD RRP price tag, as well as the cost of a desktop graphics card on top of that, is a hefty investment in itself. However, most Thunderbolt 3 eGPU hubs will provide the same functionality, let you combine the Stealth with a desktop-sized graphics card, external monitor, and other peripherals in order to let the Stealth act as a much more powerful gaming PC as your desktop while at home.

In our testing, the gaming performance while on the Core X Choma wasn’t as good as we would have hoped. There’s some bottleneck in the system that means a desktop RTX 2080 Ti card still performed worse than some of the other laptops here. Core X forums suggest there are ways to really dive in and tinker with settings to improve eGPU performance, but don’t expect to get the best from a top of the line graphics card right out of the box.

Still, there’s something really pleasing about a sleek, 13-inch ultra-portable laptop that also happens to deliver plenty of value if you want to play games. And if you decide to invest in an eGPU unit for home, you can very easily get the best of both worlds.

Razer Blade Stealth specs and performance

Version Tested	1080p Core i7-8565U (1.8GHz) w/ GeForce MX150
Screen Options	13.3″ 1080p / 13.3″ 4K
GPU Options	Intel UHD Graphics / Geforce MX150 / Geforce GTX 1650 graphics card
Weight	3.13lbs / 1.42kg
RRP	$1,099.99 USD – $1,999.99 USD ($1,999 AUD – $3,699 AUD)
X-Factor	Ultra-lightweight build

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Benchmark Result (Higher Numbers Are Better)
Ultra High: 11 (1080p) / 17 (720p) / 38 (Core X w/ RTX 2080 Ti)
Very High: 16 (1080p) / 26 (720p) / 41 (Core X)

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Best Designed Gaming Laptop

Alienware m15

The Good	The Bad
The chassis and keyboard tray feel really nice under the hands	Trackpad feels small for general purpose usage
Tobii eye-tracking built in	Premium build means a premium price

The latest design on Alienware’s m15 feels truly first class. Honeycomb patterns are a big feature, and along with looking great, they allegedly offer improved chassis strength and airflow capacity. The black-white styling is also a striking look and the finish of the body feels great under the hands. The overall m15 package is something that feels incredibly well-constructed for use as both a general-purpose laptop and a gaming rig.

A significant inclusion it boasts is Tobii eye-tracking tech. At its most basic functionality, it can dim the screen when you look away and brighten when you return, saving precious battery life when you’re using it away from power. But, it’s also got great potential for gaming, allowing eye movements to be used as an input option in games for things like camera movement. Tobii eye-tracking supports games like Elite Dangerous, ARMA III, The Division 2, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, and most importantly, Euro Truck Simulator 2.

In practice, setting up Tobii seemed a bit fussy, failing in a number of attempts to get it setup during our testing time. It worked out of the box for screen dimming and wake up features, and even then it sometimes dimmed during a benchmark test even though we were sitting right there in front of the screen. But the promise of Tobii seems solid for those who have the time to tinker and get it working.

For future proofing purposes, Alienware also includes the dedicated connector port for its proprietary eGPU unit so you can give the machine a boost while at a desk should that end up feeling necessary.

In our testing, this system performed very nicely, with its 240Hz screen delivering silky smooth gaming performance that didn’t suffer tearing or jitter. Along with the Asus Strix (below), these 240Hz screens really showed themselves to sometimes be a better feature than getting a laptop with a better graphics card and a 60Hz screen.

It’s hard to fault what Alienware is delivering here. There’s no real problems to note, though the touchpad feels a little too small for regular use in day-to-day tasks. However, the speakers sound great, the keyboard feels really nice to use, and if the already nice screen isn’t enough as it is, you can now opt for an out-of-this world OLED model too. The only caveat–you just need to set your wallet to be stunned, too.

Alienware m15 specs and performance

Version Tested	1080p Core i7-9750 (2.6GHz) w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q
Screen Options	15.6″ 1080p / 15.6″ 4K
GPU Options	GeForce GTX 1660 / GeForce RTX 2070
Weight	4.78 lbs / 2.16kg
RRP	$1,399.99 USD – $1,999.99 USD ( $2,999 AUD – $3,674 AUD)
X-Factor	Slick Design, built-in eye-tracking

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Benchmark Result (Higher Numbers Are Better)
Ultra High: 43
Very High: 47

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Most Powerful Gaming Laptop

Alienware Area51m

The Good	The Bad
Its performance is overwhelming	The dual power cable design is really annoying
Nice, subtle design despite gigantic form factor	60Hz screen reduces system overall quality
	Large, heavy, and cumbersome–don’t expect to carry this far on a regular basis

The Area51m is the biggest, beastiest machine on the list. It almost feels like a lie to use the phrase ‘laptop’ to refer to it. Measuring 16×12.5 inches and weighing 8.5 pounds, it feels like more of a desktop you can pack up when required compared to the other options on the list–toss this in a giant shoulder bag and you’re likely to throw your back out carrying it around town.

One annoying surprise is the inclusion of a double power supply. On first unpack, it seemed like there had been a mistake when I saw the 180W brick (the m15 has a 240W) until I realised that it uses two of them to operate. That means two power ports, two power cables, and two power bricks. It’s a mess of cables before you even add an external mouse or headset. For all that fuss though, this is a crazily powerful gaming rig, and it ran everything we threw at it smoothly and without any issues.

The 17-inch monolith isn’t trying to be slim or svelte, but does have a few curves that seemingly are to assist airflow, while also giving it a touch of style. The lighting design is subtle, but pops in the places its been added, including a striking multi-zone light ring around the rear air vents.

Gameplay raw performance is the best we’ve seen in any laptop tested, with a beefy CPU and GPU delivering the goods. It also has a very bright screen doing a better job than many of revealing detail in darker areas, but the screen does get more screen tear during fast rotations. We tested the 60Hz model, so we’d really want to buy it with the 144Hz upgrade option.

Its size can be somewhat uncomfortable at times, however–your hand positioning can feel a little awkward as the thick chassis forces you to raise your wrist. But if you’re after overwhelming power and your circumstances don’t allow you to invest in a desktop PC, the Area51m is exactly what you’d be hoping for.

Alienware Area51m specs and performance

Version Tested	Core i7-9700 (3.0GHz) w/ Nvidia RTX 2060
Screen Options	17.3″ 1080p only
GPU Options	Geforce GTX 1660 / RTX 2060 / RTX 2070
Weight	8.54 lbs / 3.87 Kg
RRP	$1,099.99 USD – $3969.99 USD ($3,999 AUD – $6,799 AUD)
X-Factor	Power overwhelming

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Benchmark Result (Higher Numbers Are Better)
Ultra High: 53
Very High: 68

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Best Gaming Laptop For Security

Asus ROG Strix Scar III

The Good	The Bad (Or Good, Depending On How You Feel)
Best lighting options of all the laptops tested	Special lock USB is unique but could be your worst nightmare
Quick performance management at the touch of a button	No webcam
240Hz / 3ms screen is gorgeous

Performance is solid, but one simple feature that makes it really stand out is the dedicated strip of control buttons, instead of having shared function keys. Controls for volume and microphone muting are here. as well as a launch button for the ROG controller software. Plus, there’s toggle for instantly shifting the processor configuration between silent, performance and turbo modes instead of relying on a software solution.

Details like the spacebar having a wider left side speak to gamers having been at the heart of the thinking behind the design. This keyboard gives the most comfortable WASD hand positioning for reaching important keys nearby like Shift and Space.

The USB ‘Keystone’ is this laptop’s most unique feature, however–it’s an NFC device that adds a physical security component to the laptop, as well as giving you a built-in memory device for quickly sharing data. When removed from the laptop, a defined section of the main system storage is locked down and disappears from view. It’s great for the security-minded, but it’s easy to see where things can go wrong here.

Strangely, there is no webcam built in–something that seems standard in just about every laptop out there–but if you’re somebody that takes their security very seriously, this omission on top of the Keystone feature is definitely a plus.

Gameplay performance felt first-rate, with another 240Hz screen proving itself to be a big win for smooth images on screen even in fast-paced moments. Having used one of these now, I don’t want to have to go back to a gaming laptop that has a slower screen.

Asus ROG Strix Scar III specs and performance

Version Tested	15.6” Core i7-9750H (2.6GHz) w/ Nvidia RTX 2060
Screen Options	15.6″ 1080p / 17.3″ 1080p
GPU Options	Geforce GTX 1660 / RTX 2060 / RTX 2070
Weight	6.3lb / 2.86kg
RRP	$1,649.99 USD – $1,999 USD ($1,999 AUD – $3,199 AUD)
X-Factor	Interesting security features

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Benchmark Result (Higher Numbers Are Better)
Ultra High: 45
Very High: 54

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Best Gaming Laptop For Comfort

Lenovo Y740

The Good	The Bad
Great keyboard for extensive typing	Trackpad feels ancient
Powerful speakers

Lenovo’s Legion brand keeps pushing forward to catch up to its gaming laptop rivals, and this 17.3-inch system hits an interesting balance between Lenovo’s traditional business prowess and being a great gaming-focused machine.

Lenovo has always been one of the best keyboard designers for business laptop users, with large keycaps that curve nicely under the finger. You get that same style here and it’s a pleasure to use, though I can imagine some people might not take to the bigger keys if you’re too accustomed to other setups.

The flip side, however, is a lackluster trackpad experience, with two physical buttons where most modern designs extend the trackpad surface all the way to the bottom edge. That said, the power of the speakers here really stood out amongst the rest of our favorites. Not that they sounded the sweetest, but they definitely had serious punch when you wanted to turn things up.

Game performance was not far behind the Area51m in terms of raw power, but combined with a 144Hz display with G-Sync built-in, the screen delivered jitter-free renders and fast movement. It did feel a little ‘muddy’ at times, though, not always as sharp as we’d like.

The laptop’s design feels bland, which might turn you off if being flashy is what matters. But it’s great if you just want a great gaming laptop that’s comfortable to use while also not trying to make a big deal about its gaming credentials.

Lenovo Y740 specs and performance

Version Tested	Core i7-8750H (2.2GHz) w/ Nvidia RTX 2070 Max-Q
Screen Options	15.6″ 1080p only
GPU Options	Geforce GTX 1660 / RTX 2060 / RTX 2070
Weight	4.85lb / 2.2kg
RRP	$1,719.99 USD – $1,999 USD ($2,699 AUD – $3,099 AUD)
X-Factor	Great keyboard

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Benchmark Result (Higher Numbers Are Better)
Ultra High: 50
Very High: 59

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Best Gaming Laptop For Value / Full keyboard

Acer Helios 300

The Good	The Bad
Keyboard design fits numpad	Awkward power cable positioning
Efficient management software	Sounds like a jet engine
Backlit keyboard	Build quality feels a bit lacking

The Helios 300 is a prime example of what Acer is doing right with its Predator range. It feels a little less tricked out than the likes of the Asus Strix. The keyboard feels a bit rubbery–whether that’s the keycaps or the actuators, there’s something a little soft about the experience under the fingers.

The biggest feature is the Helios’ inclusion of a number pad built in on a 15” laptop. This is a matter of taste, of course–it’s a big space and positioning trade-off just to have everything, and most models neglect the numpad to deliver a core tenkeyless design. But, if you like numpads, the Helios feels like it has gotten the scale just right–its inclusion never feels like a compromise in practice.

There are also a few dedicated gaming keys squeezed around the keyboard, including one to launch the PredatorSense management software–and this software is kept quite simple so it’s easy to quickly do exactly what you want–lighting customisation, overlocking, etc–with minimal fuss.

The trackpad is probably the worst of the range. It’s a full pad–no separate buttons–but the travel on the button press at the bottom of the pad feels way too deep and very inaccurate. But with a gaming mouse involved, are you going to use it that often anyway?

Pure performance was really impressive too, with great test numbers and a good feeling overall. There is some muddiness in dark areas of games, however, and some tearing in fast-moving renders and screen rotations.

There are few complaints here at all if you want great performance on a tight budget. If you hit the dedicated ‘Turbo’ button, get ready to hear the fans do a fantastic impersonation of a jet engine, but for the most part, the system does a good job of keeping itself performing well without needing to spin up the fans all the way.

The power cable’s strange positioning in the middle of the side seems standard for Predator laptops, presumably as part of its airflow design, but it’s a little awkward and seems like it could fit so much better elsewhere. But if that’s the only tradeoff for this impressive system to do what it does well, then it’s not quite a dealbreaker.

Acer Helios 300 specs and performance

Version Tested	15.6” Core i7-9750H (2.6GHz) w/ GTX 1660 Ti
Screen Options	15.6″ 1080p or 17.3″ 1080p
GPU Options	Geforce GTX 1660
Weight	5.95 lb (2.7kg)
RRP	$1,199.99 USD – $1,799.99 USD ($2,132.66 AUD TBC)
X-Factor	Great keyboard

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Benchmark Result (Higher Numbers Are Better)
Ultra High: 42
Very High: 46

Ninja Theory’s Bleeding Edge is an intense online multiplayer action game, but it originally began as a MOBA with a much greater focus on tactics.

Speaking in a developer update video, creative director Rahni Tucker said Bleeding Edge’s roots can be tied to multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games more than to Overwatch, a game to which comparisons have been drawn before.

“We started off with kind of towers and minions and lanes and this type of thing,” Tucker said. “But we found as we played, the game sort of told us what it wanted to be and it sort of led us away from that. Because it was hard to hold that kind of level of strategy in your head at the same time as playing in third-person.”

That action isn’t shooting-based, as is the case with many other online multiplayer games that have “hero” elements. Instead, you’ll still lock on and dodge enemy attacks like you would in Ninja Theory’s single-player action games. Even the ranged characters use lock-on, so it should be easier to jump from one to another than if they used a traditional aiming system.

Bleeding Edge officially launches for Xbox One and PC on March 24, and it’s one of several games Ninja Theory has in development. The studio is also working on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the experimental The Insight Project, and Project: Mara, which will focus on “mental terror.” Senua’s Saga will be releasing on Xbox Series X and was introduced with an impressive in-engine trailer at The Game Awards 2019.

Birds of Prey is in theaters now, and the critical consensus is that the Harley Quinn-led film is a big step in the right direction for the DCEU. It earned a superb 9/10 in GameSpot’s Birds of Prey review for its deft blend of action, humor, and pitch-perfect performances, led by Margot Robbie as Harley. If you wind up as enamored with Birds of Prey as we are, you’ll want to check out the lineup of Birds of Prey Funko Pops, which are available now.

Unsurprisingly, the Birds of Prey Funko collection focuses heavily on Harley. There are four Harley Pops widely available at major retailers and a few retailer-exclusive Pops, a couple of which can be found at Amazon. Thankfully, all of the new Harley Pops have a different enough look to justify buying more than one. Amazon even has one that comes with Bernie the Beaver discounted to $6.25 (was $11).

Harley is joined by Roman Sionis (AKA Black Mask), Black Canary, and Huntress. The Roman Pop has a Chase variant with a black and gold suit. Chase versions are shipped randomly, but you typically have 1/6 odds to get one.

Funko also gave Birds of Prey the Mystery Minis treatment. For $6, you can get a random 2.5-inch Pop from the movie (normal Pops are 3.75-inches). You have a pretty good chance of getting a Harley mini, since she accounts for five of the 12. Funko also shrunk two of the Harley Pops and turned them into adorable keychains.

You can check out all of the Birds of Prey Funko Pops below.

Harley Quinn with Beaver | $6.25 ($11)

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Harley Quinn Roller Derby | $10 ($11)

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Harley Quinn Caution Tape | $11

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Harley Quinn Black Mask Club | $11

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Harley Quinn Broken Hearted | $16.63

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Harley Quinn Boobytrap Battle | $15.21

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Roman Sionis | $10.17

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Huntress | $11

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Black Canary | $11

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Harley Quinn Pop keychains | $6

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Funko Mystery Minis: Birds of Prey | $6

2K Games has unveiled the latest DLC for WWE 2K20, featuring characters from Southpaw Regional Wrestling, a satirical web series featuring WWE performers poking fun at the ’80s era of professional wrestling. 2K has also released Patch 1.07, which addresses many of the bugs that have plagued the game since its release last October.

The new DLC features a storyline where an evil banker (played by Tyler Breeze) has taken over management of Southpaw Regional Wrestling, and the crew of good-guy wrestlers must win a series of matches to take back control of their company. It all sounds very goofy.

WWE 2K20 received a critical shellacking at launch, with many writers calling it fit for true jabonis only. In our review, Richard Wakeling cited “the sheer abundance of bugs and glitches found in almost every match and menu screen” as the game’s chief failing. Hopefully, this patch will help iron those out. If not, we suggest you know your role and try Fire Pro Wrestling World for all your squared-circle fantasies instead.

Full patch notes below:

General

• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur within the Main Menu
• Addresses reported concerns that game may freeze at various points
• Addresses reported concerns that managers may not have hometowns set
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when trying to delete a Custom Arena that is being used in a Universe Save from the Deletion utility
• Addresses reported concerns where MyCareer Unlockable Superstars failed to be present when choosing managers in the Edit Superstars Roster Menu
• Addresses reported concerns when returning from standby or suspended mode
• Addresses various other reported concerns throughout the game

Gameplay

• Addresses reported concerns with certain entrance and custom entrance animations
• Addresses reported concerns that Superstars may warp, clip, float or fall during certain animations and scenarios
• Addresses reported concerns with the appearance of hairstyles in gameplay and Appearance Menu in Create A Superstar
• Addresses reported concerns where changes made to the crowd’s reaction failed to be applied when observing the crowd during gameplay
• Addresses reported concerns with Sliders failing to take effect in gameplay after being changed in the Options menu
• Addresses reported concerns where visual corruption may occur
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when selecting the controller assignment menu option from the pause menu during gameplay
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when going into Universe with custom characters or 8-man matches with custom characters
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when completing a custom WWE Championship title Ladder Match
• Addresses reported visual concerns related to Custom Championships
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when entering an Elimination Chamber match
• Addresses reported concerns that users may load into corrupted matches when using save data from the base game or previous patches

Creations

• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns with hair dye, custom image tattoos and multiple piercings
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when selecting Candice LeRae in Create a Superstar
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when adding logos in Create A Superstar
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when importing attire parts onto other Superstars
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns with being unable to access Custom Images throughout Creations
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns where the Side Plates option wasn’t found when searching in Personal Information menu of Create a Superstar
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns that Roster settings may fail to be applied when creating a Custom variant of a WWE Superstar in Create a Superstar
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns where color changes made to parts may revert back to a default color
• Create a Superstar: Addresses reported concerns with editing a Block Body
• Create a Championship: Addresses various reported concerns with custom championships, side plate creation, and assigning side plates to Superstars
• Create a Championship: Addresses reported concerns with being unable to delete custom titles that are assigned to Universe Shows
• Community Creations: Addresses reported concerns where Images were missing when downloading a Custom Championship with Custom Images applied and observing it in gameplay
• Community Creations: Addresses reported concerns in Uploads where Creator Rank didn’t display correct “Until Next Rank” goals
• Create a Victory: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur on a loading screen when attempting to enter Create A Victory
• Create an Arena: Addresses reported concerns with stage construction assets in Create an Arena
• Create an Arena: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when entering the Advanced Creations menu of a Custom Superstar when creating an entrance
• Create an Arena: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when applying images in Create an Arena
• Create a Move: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when entering the Create a Move-Set menu after previously uploading custom move-sets in Community Creations
• Create a Move: Addresses reported concerns about an infinite loading screen which occurred when selecting Toni Storm in Create a Move-Set
• Create a Move: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when exiting the Move-Set in Creation a Move-set
• Create a Video: Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when leaving the preview for Universe Cutscene containing a female Custom Superstar in Create a Video
• Create a Video: Addresses reported concerns with encoded videos playing at a low framerate when viewed in Create a Video

Online

• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur in online lobbies
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when starting a second match in Online
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur after completing a One on One, or Last Man Standing, match in Online
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when the host quits out of a game in Online
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur on loading screen when choosing to play another round after completing a One on One match in Online
• Addresses reported concerns when loading into an Online Triple Threat Match
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur after recovering from a network error that occurred in a post-match lobby when selecting Quick Play

Universe

• Addresses reported concerns with changes to the arena failing to apply when editing matches in the Tonight’s Show menu in Universe
• Addresses reported concerns with Customized Championship title matches being reset when using titles downloaded from Community Creations and then exiting from Universe
• Addresses reported concerns with being unable to set an alt attire that was created through Create A Superstar for an already in-progress Universe
• Addresses reported concerns that a crash may occur as the referee signals for the match to start in an 8-Man Elimination Tag Team Match at Survivor Series in Universe
• Addresses reported concerns that a crash may occur after accepting an invitation while simulating a match in Universe Calendar
• Addresses reported concerns that a crash may occur when viewing the Match Up screen of Full Preview in Universe
• Addresses reported concerns with the post-match run-in sequence not occurring properly when the winner of the match is a champion and the run-in superstar is the MITB holder in Universe
• Addresses reported concerns that a crash may occur when playing 8-man tag matches in Universe
• Addresses reported concerns that a crash may occur while playing through Universe causing Custom Shows & Divisions to inaccessible
• Addresses reported concerns that custom show settings may be erased when closing & reopening the title while in the Universe Menu
• Addresses reported concerns that a crash may occur after setting the entry order for all participants in a Royal Rumble

MyPlayer/MyCareer

• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when suspending the title during the “Randomization” in MyPlayer settings in Creations
• Addresses reported concerns with challenges failing to track
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur in MyCareer load screens
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when selecting the default appearance and then confirming an eye color when customizing the MyPlayer in the MyPlayer Wizard
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when playing through the Chapter 1 MITB match and viewing the mid-match cutscene in MyCareer
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes or errors may occur related to various MyPlayer Towers
• Addresses reported concerns that placeholder text may be displayed and a crash may be encountered when loading into the MyPlayer ‘Single’ victory edit menu
• Addresses reported concerns that saved changes may be reset to default when editing and loading the Team Entrance or Tag Victory from the MyPlayer Home menu
• Addresses reported concerns that an Attire Preset lower arm item may be locked when entering MyPlayer Appearance
• Addresses reported concerns that loss of functionality may occur after switching selection during the Hub screen in Chapter Two, Act Seven of MyCareer
• Addresses reported concerns that VC may be lost when starting the game without Internet access, reconnecting, buying into the PPV event and closing the title on the Road to Glory menu
• Addresses reported concerns with an infinite loading screen that may occur when selecting MyPlayer for the first time
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur at various points in MyCareer when pressing the continue prompt to advance to the next Chapter or Act
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur after completing objectives at various points in MyCareer

2K Central

• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when viewing the Charlotte Flair video package before the first match in “The Four Horsewomen” Showcase
• Addresses reported concerns with the game launching from a terminated state after performing a connected standby during gameplay in the Four Horsewoman mode in 2K Central
• Addresses reported concerns that Charlotte Flair may occasionally fall through the mat after viewing or skipping the cutscene in Match 14 of Showcase

Audio

• Addresses reported concerns with The WWE European Championship having the incorrect ring announcement when viewing the championship introduction in gameplay
• Addresses reported concerns with Grand Championship Batista’s entrance music missing
• Addresses reported concerns with Ali Fortune Fighter failing to have his unique entrance music when viewed in Create an Entrance
• Addresses reported concerns that certain issues may occur in connection with Music Jukebox

2K Originals

• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur from a side plate being obtained
• Addresses reported concerns with a Showcase objective not completing when performing Springboard Blackout finisher in the ring
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when loading into or exiting matches, Towers or Showcases in 2K Originals
• Addresses reported concerns with The Wasteland Wanderers failing to be available initially after purchasing the DLC key and proceeding into the 2K Originals menu
• Addresses reported concerns with entrances and cutscenes failing to trigger when playing through the Demon Within Showcase
• Addresses reported concerns with rewards for Wasteland Wanderer DLC being unlocked before meeting unlock conditions when viewed in Create a Superstar
• Addresses reported concerns that DLC Weapon Skins may fail to apply when attempting to set favorite weapon skins in the Customization menu of MyPlayer
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when quitting out of the second match of the “Trapped With Me” tower in the Wasteland Wanderers DLC
• Addresses reported concerns with MyPlayer attire items not unlocking when completing the Grip of the Overlord Showcase in the Wasteland Wanderers DLC and The Demon Within Showcase in the Bump in the Night DLC
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when loading into TALK scenes for certain Showcase matches of the Bump in the Night and Wasteland Wanderers DLC
• Addresses reported concerns that crashes may occur when coming from Community Creations and entering a Showcase match in any 2K Originals content

A free update for Children of Morta adds a Hard Mode and a few other extras. The “Shrine of Challenge” DLC is available now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and it makes the already tough action-RPG a good bit tougher.

The new Hard Mode introduced in the update increases enemy damage and health, but also grants you better rewards. The update adds two new enemies, the Dark Blade and Mech Constructor. To help you on your quest you can utilize the 18 new items, like bolts of electricity or boulders falling from the sky. Finally, the update makes some balance tweaks and offers a new UI with an optional larger HUD.

Children of Morta is 30% off on Steam for a limited time, and it was recently added to the Xbox Game Pass library. This update marks the first of several free updates that are said to be coming throughout 2020.

Children of Morta is an action-RPG in which each of the playable characters is a member of the same family clan, as they fight off the darkness that’s encroaching on their world. As such, the family dynamics play a big part in the story.

“Children of Morta’s fantastic art style and enjoyable storytelling take what would have been an otherwise fun roguelike dungeon-crawler and elevate it a great deal,” James O’Connor wrote in GameSpot’s review. “Taking down enemies and eventually triumphing over bosses is enjoyable, but what kept bringing me back was the connection I felt to the Bergsons, and my sincere desire to help them push back against the Corruption. After all, it’s a lot easier dealing with dungeons full of monsters when you have a family to come home to.”